Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no substitute members for the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Local Highways Panel held on 23 March 2010.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2010 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the addition of attendance for Councillors A Purkiss and Councillor C Pond.

There were no matters arising.

To note the nominated 5 Parish representatives and the terms of reference. (Attached)

The terms of reference were noted.

The panel received a short presentation from the Acting Area Highways Manager for the West Essex Area, Peter Massie defining the Localism Initiative and the roles and responsibilities of the Local Highways Panel, allowing the community to have an influence on highways issues. Additional information for new Panel Members could be found on the ECC website or by contacting the West Area Office. (highways.westarea@essex.gov.uk)

The Highways Liaison Officer, Rosa Tanfield informed the Panel that budgets were being finalised and due to recent Government announcements on in-year efficiency savings, ECC were currently working through the impact of these savings on the programme. As such officers had been instructed to place orders up to the value of 50% of the budget whilst awaiting the finalised figures.

The current budgets for the Capital and Revenue totalled £4,715,280 of spending across the District on highways maintenance, traffic management improvements and all-purpose maintenance. Furthermore funding had also been identified for a major surfacing overhaul programme to target the deterioration brought about by the poor weather conditions during the winter period. This had been incorporated into the Capital programme and the Department of Transport had allocated £189,915 for pothole repairs and patching work in order to return the network to conditions comparable to prior the winter period.

Members commented on the programme of works 2010/11 only identifying indicative dates for some of the schemes rather than all of the schemes listed and how the additional £333,333 funding for the surfacing overhaul programme had been allocated across the County.

Officers advised that they had identified schemes whilst awaiting the finalised budget to allow works to begin and that the maintenance budget allocations where calculated using a formula that took into account, the types of roads, population and length of roads across District.

The list of Priority 1 road and footway maintenance projects approved by the panel for the 2010/11 budget had been incorporated into the programme. Officers had also identified additional roads that had experienced serious deterioration beyond those that had already been identified and approved by the Panel and the Area Office had set targets for the level of surface dressing undertaken in the programme of works. Members had before them this list of schemes and Members agreed for the inclusion of these into the programme. The roads that had not been included would remain on the list and if further funding became available later in the year, they would be added to the programme.

Officers informed the Panel that the traffic improvement schemes included the completion of the positive signage review in Nazeing, four locations that had been included in the Safer Roads Improvement programme and additional funding allocated for two route studies, where a high number of treatable road collisions had been identified. These were subject to the budget allocations set by County.

Members enquired about the historical accident information that the County uses when selecting the sites, so that they could explain to residents why certain sites have been identified.

Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

Members enquired about the progress of the Parking Reviews for Epping, Buckhurst Hill and Debden, Loughton.

The Portfolio Holder for Operational Planning and Transport, Councillor Ms S Stavrou advised that she had attended a meeting with the County Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transportation, Councillor Norman Hume, where he had promised that the County Council would undertake a through review of the issues surrounding the Parking Reviews.

The County Council was currently considering all options and would be taking legal advice; therefore no further comments could be made. The Portfolio Holder for Operational Planning and Transport would provide additional information and a further update at the next Cabinet meeting on the 19 July 2010.

Members asked whether the drainage cleansing programme continued to be provided around the District and if so whether officers could supply a programme.

Officers advised that the cleansing programme continued throughout the District and they would supply Members with the details of the programme. 

Tuesday 21 September 2010, Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Epping.

Noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 21 September at 7.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Epping.